Components of Population Growth

Natural Increase

Each day, Wake County experiences an average of 34 births and 12 deaths, or 22 new residents due to natural increase. Since 2010, natural increase has contributed to 35% of Wake County’s population growth.

Net Migration

As the home to the state’s capital, one of the state’s flagship universities (NC State), and many major employers, Wake County receives a steady flow of people into—and out of—the county. On average, 188 people move into Wake County every day and 148 people move out, meaning Wake gains an average of 40 new residents each day due to net migration. Since 2010, net migration has accounted for 65% of Wake County’s growth.

Total New Residents Per Week

TOTAL NEW RESIDENTS

Natural Increase[i]

Births

Deaths

Net Migration[ii]

Total

433

153

239

86

280

Apex

28

8

11

3

20

Cary

93

19

29

10

74

Fuquay-Varina

20

3

6

3

17

Garner

6

3

7

4

3

Holly Springs

25

5

8

3

20

Knightdale

11

4

5

1

7

Morrisville

20

5

8

3

15

Raleigh

164

78

119

41

86

Rolesville

5

1

1

0

4

Wake Forest

27

6

9

3

21

Wendell

2

2

3

1

0

Zebulon

1

1

2

1

0

Balance of County

31

18

31

13

13

Characteristics of Babies Born

Births by Race/Ethnicity

53% are to white mothers

22% are to black mothers

7% are to Asian mothers

17% are to Hispanic mothers

1% are to mothers of other racial groups

Births by Location

50% occur Raleigh

12% occur in Cary

5% occur in Apex

4% occur in Wake Forest

3% occur in each of Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, and Morrisville

17% occur elsewhere in the county

Characteristics of Net-Migrants

Origin

31 of Wake County’s average daily net migrants are from domestic migration:

9 of Wake County’s average daily net migrants come from elsewhere in North Carolina,

9 of Wake County’s average daily net migrants are from international migration:

3 are from India/East Asia

2 are from each of Africa, Central America, and Europe

Top 3 countries: China, India, Mexico (each average about 1 migrant per day)

Destination

12 move to Raleigh

11 move to Cary

3 move to each of Apex, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest

2 move to each of Fuquay-Varina and Morrisville

1 moves to Knightdale

3 move elsewhere in the county

Generation/Age of Net Migrants

2 net migrants are pre-K (ages 1 to 4)

5 net migrants are K-12 (ages 5 to 17)

5 net migrants are college age (18-24)

Wake County loses 1 recent high school graduate (ages 18 to 19) – likely to attend college elsewhere in the state or country

6 net migrants are young adults (ages 20 to 24) – either transferring to school, starting grad school, or moving to Wake for employment

7 net migrants are between the ages of 25 and 34

11 net migrants are between the ages of 35 and 44

4 net migrants are between the ages of 45 and 54

3 net migrants are between the ages of 55 and 64

3 net migrants are 65 or older

From a generational perspective:

7 children under 18 (not assigned to specific generation)

9 Millennials

13 Gen Xers

8 Baby Boomers

3 Silent Generation

Race & Hispanic Origin of Net Migrants

17 White

10 Asian

8 Black

6 Hispanic

Wake County has a net loss of 1 other or multi-racial individual per day

Marital Status of Net Migrants

Each day, Wake County nets an average of 33 individuals 16 and older (for whom marital status is determined). Among these:

17 are currently married

11 have never been married

3 are divorced or separated

2 are widowed

Educational Attainment of Net Migrants

Each day, Wake County nets an average of 28 individuals 25 and older. Among these:

3 have less than a high school diploma

2 individuals with only a HS diploma or GED move out of Wake County

6 have some college or an associate’s degree

14 have a bachelor’s degree

7 have a graduate or professional degree

Selected Calculations

Average Growth per Day

Watch the video below to see the formulas in how Average Growth Per Day or AGPD between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2013.

VIDEO: Wake Hits A Million Calculation

Date of Arrival of Millionth ResidentThe date of arrival of the millionth resident is calculated first by determining the number of additional residents needed to reach one million and dividing by the average growth per day. The video above illustrates this calculation.

At the current rate of growth, it will take 416.52 days—or 1 year and 51.52 days—from July 1, 2013 for Wake County to reach its millionth resident.